need advice on registering in VA
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Living on Borrowed Time
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From: Prowling the streets of NoVA
need advice on registering in VA
im trying to weigh the cost effectiveness of a desicion that im trying to make.
my car has been on CA tags for awhile now and im looking to get it registered with VA (finally). problem is, i dont meet emissions standards. i have a mild street port, aftermarket intake, DP and no cat.
would it be better to go the quick-fix route and purchase a PO box, and register the car in VA beach even though i dont live there(i live in fairfax but travel to the beach often)? or just go out and buy a high-flow converter (or stock converter) and hope to pass the sniffer up here.
is registering outside my county possible? how does that work with VA DMV?
i want to get this done before the summer is out. help me out here...
my car has been on CA tags for awhile now and im looking to get it registered with VA (finally). problem is, i dont meet emissions standards. i have a mild street port, aftermarket intake, DP and no cat.
would it be better to go the quick-fix route and purchase a PO box, and register the car in VA beach even though i dont live there(i live in fairfax but travel to the beach often)? or just go out and buy a high-flow converter (or stock converter) and hope to pass the sniffer up here.
is registering outside my county possible? how does that work with VA DMV?
i want to get this done before the summer is out. help me out here...
If you've got a working factory cat and an airpump, you should pass VA emissions. Neither should be tough to come by.
Don't bother with a high-flow, just swap 'em out every two years.
Don't bother with a high-flow, just swap 'em out every two years.
Originally Posted by Nghtstlkr7
thats what i was leanin towards. does VA do visual on intake systems?
I wouldn't know about that emissions testing stuff - they don't do it in the Richmond area.
I'm going to invoke the 5th here, and just say that I know that BOTH methods work 
For swapping out the emissions equipment, I personally think it's a hassle, and is never a sure-fire guarantee that you'll pass. Some places do indeed do a visual inspection (check for cat, airpump, EGR valve, etc). But then again, you should be smart and scout a "chill" inspection station prior to your inspection date. This also warrants quite a bit of work (a few hours in the least, assuming you find one on the first day of your search). And again, for emissions, you can pass, and you can fail. It's a 50/50 shot. If you fail, things get a lot more complicated.
As for registration, you reserve the right in VA to title and register your vehicle to a PO Box for privacy reasons. Based on that address, you will be eligible or exempt from emissions. So obviously that's an easy route. The difficulty arises when a) you're trying to take care of the paperwork such as registering w/ the local county for property tax etc, and they ask you for the principle location your vehicle is garaged - they're lookin for a street address. B) While it IS legal, you can catch some flack and raise an eyebrow or two by having your license display one address, and your registration displaying another. Initially, the cops are trying to bust you for failure to update your new address w/ the DMV within 10 days of moving - that's why they ALWAYS ask you if you've moved. Easy ticket. But in this case, you didn't move. You're simply temporarily using a vehicle that is principally garaged in the location on the registration (ie that's what you say). In your case, your "family" is in VA Beach, and you brought the car up for a weekend or two, etc. But the car is garaged 51% of the time (or more) in VA Beach, so there's no issue regarding why the addresses on your license and registration are different. The good news is, you NEVER have to worry about emissions, and simply need to get your safety inspection once a year, which can be done ANYWHERE in the state (doesn't have to be local to either of the addresses). The downside is, that PO Box is where the DMV will send you registration renewal info, and where your Property Tax Bill will go. So if you don't check it often, you can get in a wee bit of trouble w/ the law...
Or so I've heard
~Ramy
For swapping out the emissions equipment, I personally think it's a hassle, and is never a sure-fire guarantee that you'll pass. Some places do indeed do a visual inspection (check for cat, airpump, EGR valve, etc). But then again, you should be smart and scout a "chill" inspection station prior to your inspection date. This also warrants quite a bit of work (a few hours in the least, assuming you find one on the first day of your search). And again, for emissions, you can pass, and you can fail. It's a 50/50 shot. If you fail, things get a lot more complicated.
As for registration, you reserve the right in VA to title and register your vehicle to a PO Box for privacy reasons. Based on that address, you will be eligible or exempt from emissions. So obviously that's an easy route. The difficulty arises when a) you're trying to take care of the paperwork such as registering w/ the local county for property tax etc, and they ask you for the principle location your vehicle is garaged - they're lookin for a street address. B) While it IS legal, you can catch some flack and raise an eyebrow or two by having your license display one address, and your registration displaying another. Initially, the cops are trying to bust you for failure to update your new address w/ the DMV within 10 days of moving - that's why they ALWAYS ask you if you've moved. Easy ticket. But in this case, you didn't move. You're simply temporarily using a vehicle that is principally garaged in the location on the registration (ie that's what you say). In your case, your "family" is in VA Beach, and you brought the car up for a weekend or two, etc. But the car is garaged 51% of the time (or more) in VA Beach, so there's no issue regarding why the addresses on your license and registration are different. The good news is, you NEVER have to worry about emissions, and simply need to get your safety inspection once a year, which can be done ANYWHERE in the state (doesn't have to be local to either of the addresses). The downside is, that PO Box is where the DMV will send you registration renewal info, and where your Property Tax Bill will go. So if you don't check it often, you can get in a wee bit of trouble w/ the law...
Or so I've heard
~Ramy
Last edited by FDNewbie; Jul 14, 2006 at 04:28 PM.
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Living on Borrowed Time
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From: Prowling the streets of NoVA
Originally Posted by FDNewbie
I'm going to invoke the 5th here, and just say that I know that BOTH methods work
For swapping out the emissions equipment, I personally think it's a hassle, and is never a sure-fire guarantee that you'll pass. Some places do indeed do a visual inspection (check for cat, airpump, EGR valve, etc). But then again, you should be smart and scout a "chill" inspection station prior to your inspection date. This also warrants quite a bit of work (a few hours in the least, assuming you find one on the first day of your search). And again, for emissions, you can pass, and you can fail. It's a 50/50 shot. If you fail, things get a lot more complicated.
As for registration, you reserve the right in VA to title and register your vehicle to a PO Box for privacy reasons. Based on that address, you will be eligible or exempt from emissions. So obviously that's an easy route. The difficulty arises when a) you're trying to take care of the paperwork such as registering w/ the local county for property tax etc, and they ask you for the principle location your vehicle is garaged - they're lookin for a street address. B) While it IS legal, you can catch some flack and raise an eyebrow or two by having your license display one address, and your registration displaying another. Initially, the cops are trying to bust you for failure to update your new address w/ the DMV within 10 days of moving - that's why they ALWAYS ask you if you've moved. Easy ticket. But in this case, you didn't move. You're simply temporarily using a vehicle that is principally garaged in the location on the registration (ie that's what you say). In your case, your "family" is in VA Beach, and you brought the car up for a weekend or two, etc. But the car is garaged 51% of the time (or more) in VA Beach, so there's no issue regarding why the addresses on your license and registration are different. The good news is, you NEVER have to worry about emissions, and simply need to get your safety inspection once a year, which can be done ANYWHERE in the state (doesn't have to be local to either of the addresses). The downside is, that PO Box is where the DMV will send you registration renewal info, and where your Property Tax Bill will go. So if you don't check it often, you can get in a wee bit of trouble w/ the law...
Or so I've heard
~Ramy
For swapping out the emissions equipment, I personally think it's a hassle, and is never a sure-fire guarantee that you'll pass. Some places do indeed do a visual inspection (check for cat, airpump, EGR valve, etc). But then again, you should be smart and scout a "chill" inspection station prior to your inspection date. This also warrants quite a bit of work (a few hours in the least, assuming you find one on the first day of your search). And again, for emissions, you can pass, and you can fail. It's a 50/50 shot. If you fail, things get a lot more complicated.
As for registration, you reserve the right in VA to title and register your vehicle to a PO Box for privacy reasons. Based on that address, you will be eligible or exempt from emissions. So obviously that's an easy route. The difficulty arises when a) you're trying to take care of the paperwork such as registering w/ the local county for property tax etc, and they ask you for the principle location your vehicle is garaged - they're lookin for a street address. B) While it IS legal, you can catch some flack and raise an eyebrow or two by having your license display one address, and your registration displaying another. Initially, the cops are trying to bust you for failure to update your new address w/ the DMV within 10 days of moving - that's why they ALWAYS ask you if you've moved. Easy ticket. But in this case, you didn't move. You're simply temporarily using a vehicle that is principally garaged in the location on the registration (ie that's what you say). In your case, your "family" is in VA Beach, and you brought the car up for a weekend or two, etc. But the car is garaged 51% of the time (or more) in VA Beach, so there's no issue regarding why the addresses on your license and registration are different. The good news is, you NEVER have to worry about emissions, and simply need to get your safety inspection once a year, which can be done ANYWHERE in the state (doesn't have to be local to either of the addresses). The downside is, that PO Box is where the DMV will send you registration renewal info, and where your Property Tax Bill will go. So if you don't check it often, you can get in a wee bit of trouble w/ the law...
Or so I've heard
~Ramy
NP. There is one other solution, of course. If someone who lived in a non-emissions county was graceful enough to allow you to register and title your vehicle to their home address. That would be PERFECT, b/c that would have all the t's crossed and i's dotted. All you'd have to do is leave him w/ say $50, and ask him to mail you everything that comes for ya once a week or so. Man I wish I had a friend like that in rural VA... 
~Ramy
~Ramy
Originally Posted by FDNewbie
NP. There is one other solution, of course. If someone who lived in a non-emissions county was graceful enough to allow you to register and title your vehicle to their home address. That would be PERFECT, b/c that would have all the t's crossed and i's dotted. All you'd have to do is leave him w/ say $50, and ask him to mail you everything that comes for ya once a week or so. Man I wish I had a friend like that in rural VA...
~Ramy
~Ramy
LOL...ok maybe I shoulda rephrased how I said that I definitely wasn't trying to imply anything 
It's just one of those things that I feel you'd REALLY need to know someone *very* well and be real close to them in order to be able to ask 'em for such a favor, ya know? But having said that, now if that's an offer...
~Ramy
PS: I'd change your listed location REAL quick before you get 50 PMs from guys on the forum askin ya if you'd do it LOL
I definitely wasn't trying to imply anything It's just one of those things that I feel you'd REALLY need to know someone *very* well and be real close to them in order to be able to ask 'em for such a favor, ya know? But having said that, now if that's an offer...
~Ramy
PS: I'd change your listed location REAL quick before you get 50 PMs from guys on the forum askin ya if you'd do it LOL
Last edited by FDNewbie; Jul 14, 2006 at 04:52 PM.
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From: Virginia
Originally Posted by FDNewbie
I'm going to invoke the 5th here, and just say that I know that BOTH methods work
For swapping out the emissions equipment, I personally think it's a hassle, and is never a sure-fire guarantee that you'll pass. Some places do indeed do a visual inspection (check for cat, airpump, EGR valve, etc). But then again, you should be smart and scout a "chill" inspection station prior to your inspection date. This also warrants quite a bit of work (a few hours in the least, assuming you find one on the first day of your search). And again, for emissions, you can pass, and you can fail. It's a 50/50 shot. If you fail, things get a lot more complicated.
As for registration, you reserve the right in VA to title and register your vehicle to a PO Box for privacy reasons. Based on that address, you will be eligible or exempt from emissions. So obviously that's an easy route. The difficulty arises when a) you're trying to take care of the paperwork such as registering w/ the local county for property tax etc, and they ask you for the principle location your vehicle is garaged - they're lookin for a street address. B) While it IS legal, you can catch some flack and raise an eyebrow or two by having your license display one address, and your registration displaying another. Initially, the cops are trying to bust you for failure to update your new address w/ the DMV within 10 days of moving - that's why they ALWAYS ask you if you've moved. Easy ticket. But in this case, you didn't move. You're simply temporarily using a vehicle that is principally garaged in the location on the registration (ie that's what you say). In your case, your "family" is in VA Beach, and you brought the car up for a weekend or two, etc. But the car is garaged 51% of the time (or more) in VA Beach, so there's no issue regarding why the addresses on your license and registration are different. The good news is, you NEVER have to worry about emissions, and simply need to get your safety inspection once a year, which can be done ANYWHERE in the state (doesn't have to be local to either of the addresses). The downside is, that PO Box is where the DMV will send you registration renewal info, and where your Property Tax Bill will go. So if you don't check it often, you can get in a wee bit of trouble w/ the law...
Or so I've heard
~Ramy
For swapping out the emissions equipment, I personally think it's a hassle, and is never a sure-fire guarantee that you'll pass. Some places do indeed do a visual inspection (check for cat, airpump, EGR valve, etc). But then again, you should be smart and scout a "chill" inspection station prior to your inspection date. This also warrants quite a bit of work (a few hours in the least, assuming you find one on the first day of your search). And again, for emissions, you can pass, and you can fail. It's a 50/50 shot. If you fail, things get a lot more complicated.
As for registration, you reserve the right in VA to title and register your vehicle to a PO Box for privacy reasons. Based on that address, you will be eligible or exempt from emissions. So obviously that's an easy route. The difficulty arises when a) you're trying to take care of the paperwork such as registering w/ the local county for property tax etc, and they ask you for the principle location your vehicle is garaged - they're lookin for a street address. B) While it IS legal, you can catch some flack and raise an eyebrow or two by having your license display one address, and your registration displaying another. Initially, the cops are trying to bust you for failure to update your new address w/ the DMV within 10 days of moving - that's why they ALWAYS ask you if you've moved. Easy ticket. But in this case, you didn't move. You're simply temporarily using a vehicle that is principally garaged in the location on the registration (ie that's what you say). In your case, your "family" is in VA Beach, and you brought the car up for a weekend or two, etc. But the car is garaged 51% of the time (or more) in VA Beach, so there's no issue regarding why the addresses on your license and registration are different. The good news is, you NEVER have to worry about emissions, and simply need to get your safety inspection once a year, which can be done ANYWHERE in the state (doesn't have to be local to either of the addresses). The downside is, that PO Box is where the DMV will send you registration renewal info, and where your Property Tax Bill will go. So if you don't check it often, you can get in a wee bit of trouble w/ the law...
Or so I've heard
~Ramy
To reduce the risk of problems, ensure there is some kind of sticker on the windshield from the jurisdiction where the vehicle is registered.
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